“With her alluring voice and wide repertoire, she entertains with joy and authority.” Twin Cities Star Tribune

  “Elaine Dame sings standards with old-school insouciance, bringing plenty of rhythmic oomph to the swing she generates with her band (pianist Dennis Luxion, bassist Jake Vinsel, drummer Jon Deitemyer, and guitarist Andy Brown). But her devotion to classic jazz aesthetics doesn’t prevent her from mining gold from more contemporary sources—she makes agile vehicles of […]

“Elaine Dame had a strong voice with a cool style that defines her signature. She’s not gimmicky smooth. Dame has great phrasing and character that is sexy in her own way. She runs counter to but in sync with the band resulting in a swinging groove that works over many tempos”

“Dame’s interpretive gifts-which are through the roof-do what jazz is meant to do: turn these well-worn tunes into a revelatory and often very witty set of commentaries on each other. This song list is constructed like a roller-coaster ride over the radiant heights and the devastating depths of the modern landscape of modern romance. Her […]

“Dame’s silky voice captivates us right from the very beginning. The great thing about Elaine and her latest release is how it really sticks to the roots of jazz; her voice shines through as we get to hear every note clearly. As we listen, we are reminded of the jazz great, Ella Fitzgerald, as Dame sings […]

“Elaine’s command of her voice is really something to witness. It’s not that she’s just a good singer, she can take words and sounds, and articulate them giving them the appearance of action. It’s like she’s dancing with her lyrics.”

“The CD features tunes written by some of the giants of popular music, including Irving Berlin, Stanley Turrentine, Richard Rodgers, Joni Mitchell, and Richard Thompson. The album pairs Dame’s masterful vocals with the skillful playing of some of Chicago’s top jazz musicians.”

“Combining the best elements of jazz, pop, cabaret and show tunes, Elaine Dame’s new CD You’re My Thrill is a real winner. Musically, You’re My Thrill  benefits from having some of Chicago’s top players on piano, drums, guitar, and horns but at the center is Elaine Dame’s gorgeous voice.”

“Her new album You’re My Thrill is exactly what you’d expect from a consummate pro here in Chicago.  The sidemen are a who’s who of top-notch players in town (Dennis Luxion, Jake Vinsel, Jim Cox, Jon Deitemeyer, Andy Brown, Chris Madsen, Russ Phillips and Art Davis among them), and the arrangements are refreshingly well thought out. There’s a […]

“Elaine possesses an exacting, exhilarating command of melodic lines and emotional currents. It helps that she has pinpoint intonation: in performance, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard her miss her mark, even on difficult leaps or drops in a melody line. But she handles those intervals with a dancer’s grace and a nuanced attack, which allow the […]